Illustrious trio Barcelona, Liverpool and Bayern Munich, European champions 12 times between them, are all in danger of an early exit from the competition this week. Holder Barcelona faces former striker Samuel Eto'o in its tie against Inter Milan where defeat, combined with a win for Russia's Rubin Kazan over Dynamo Kiev, would see it go out. Five-time champion Liverpool has a relatively straightforward match away to table-propping Hungarian Debrecen but its fate is largely out of its hands as it will be eliminated if Fiorentina beat already-qualified Olympique Lyon at home. Similarly, Bayern Munich hosts pointless Maccabi Haifa knowing that, even if it wins as expected, it will go out if Juventus overcome a Girondins Bordeaux side which is also through to the last 16. In other games, Arsenal should join Lyon, Bordeaux, Chelsea, Porto, Manchester United and Sevilla in the last 16 while AC Milan and Real Madrid also have good chances of making sure of their places. Inter's visit to Barcelona Tuesday in Group F provides the highlight of the week. The Italians top the group with six points after their last-gasp win in Dynamo Kiev two weeks ago, one ahead of Rubin Kazan and Barcelona with the Ukrainians a further point behind. Pep Guardiola's team is rushing to get Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Lionel Messi back to fitness for the potentially decisive encounter. Argentina forward Messi picked up a thigh muscle injury in Saturday's 1-1 La Liga draw at Athletic Bilbao and Ibrahimovic missed the game, also dogged by a thigh problem. Defender Eric Abidal and midfielder Yaya Toure have been struck by the H1N1 virus but Guardiola refused to ring the alarm bells over his mounting problems. “If players aren't there... we'll play with others. You don't win titles with two or three players,” he said after the Bilbao game. Bayern Munich has yet to win a home game in Group A and, although it should have little trouble breaking its duck against Maccabi Wednesday, it may prove too late. Third with four points from as many games, Bayern is four behind Juventus and will be eliminated if the Italians win away to a Girondins team which has nothing play for apart from its reputation. With Bayern seventh in the Bundesliga, failure would heap further pressure on beleaguered coach Louis van Gaal. Liverpool, which can ill afford to miss out on the lucrative final stages, is already without key striker Fernando Torres for Tuesday's trip to Hungary in Group E. Rafael Benitez's team is third with four points, five behind Fiorentina which could already be out of touch when it visits Anfield on the final match day. Failure to win will condemn Liverpool to an early exit as would a Fiorentina victory against Lyon. Group C leader AC Milan will qualify for the last 16 if it beats Olympique Marseille at home Wednesday. A Milan win would also enable Real Madrid to go through provided it can beat Swiss champion FC Zurich, which has already shipped 12 goals in four games and lost 5-2 at home to the Spanish side earlier in the group. Milan and Real – whose Bernabeu stadium will host the final – has seven points apiece, one ahead of Marseille. A draw at home to Standard Liege would be enough for Group H leaders Arsenal to qualify.
